NRC orders independent safety review of Indian Point

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered an independent safety review of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

The request is part of the NRC's annual review of overall plant operations. While the agency still gave plant owner Entergy high marks overall, it says the company could do more. The NRC points to technical issues, which keep popping up in several areas.

The NRC wants Entergy to bring in someone from the outside to evaluate what is called "the safety culture" at Indian Point. Entergy believes there is currently an emphasis on putting safety first.

?We recently did an employee survey for the entire Entergy fleet and Indian Point scored the highest in the entire fleet," says Entergy spokesperson Robyn Bentley.

Bentley says the company has not yet decided how it will proceed with the NRC, but that it will respond within 30 days. The NRC's request comes while the agency is considering Entergy's application to renew licenses for units two and three. A hearing on issues involved in that application will be held in White Plains next week.